Christopher Bushell VC, DSO (1888 – 1918) – sportsman and soldier

With thanks to John Daniel for finding this information for us

Christopher was born on 31st October 1888 in Neston, Wirral, Cheshire, UK (now in Merseysdie).  His parents were Reginald Bushell, a wine merchant, and his wife Caroline, nee Hope.  Initially educated at Moorland House, Heswall, Wirral, and later at Rugby School from 1901-1906, Christopher went on to study law at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he was Captain of his college boat and also rowed at Henley Regatta.  

A keen rugby player with Notting Hill Club, Christopher was their Treasurer for a time..  

Called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1911, on 8th May 1912, Christopher was commissioned as a Special Reserve Officer in the 1st Battalion, The Queen’s Royal (West Surrey) Regiment.

Christopher was a Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in the 7th (S) Battalion, The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, British Army, during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross:

“On 23 March 1918 west of St. Quentin's Canal and north of Tergnier, France, Lieutenant Colonel Bushell personally led C Company of his battalion, who were cooperating with an Allied regiment in a counterattack. In the course of this attack he was severely wounded in the head, but continued to carry on, walking in front of both British and Allied troops, encouraging them and visiting every portion of the lines in the face of terrific machine-gun and rifle fire. He refused to go to the rear until he had to be removed to the dressing station in a fainting condition.”

Christopher was killed in action to the south of Morlancourt, Somme, France, on 8th August 1918. He was buried in Querrieu CWGC, Somme, France, Grave reference: Row E, Grave 6.  He is also remembered at the church in Neston, Wirral. 

In 1923, the Christopher Bushell Prize of books, for Modern History undergraduates, was established at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where Bushell read Modern History from 1906 to 1909.

John Daniel

Additional sources:  Find my Past, FreeBMD<

https://victoriacrossonline.co.uk/christopher-bushell-vc-dso/

https://www.nestonpast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/9-Christopher-Bushell-VC-DSO.pdf